Ribadesella: Santa Marina beach and the Tito Bustillo cave

Just 20 minutes from Villa del Sella, where the river Sella meets the Cantabrian Sea, lies Ribadesella, one of the most charming coastal towns in Asturias. It's the finish line of the famous kayak descent and the perfect launch point for exploring the eastern coast.

Santa Marina beach

The soul of Ribadesella is its Santa Marina beach, a wide bay of golden sand bordered by the Malecón promenade and its grand "indiano" mansions. It has every amenity, a surf school and waves for all levels, so it's perfect both for a family beach day and for trying surfing for the first time.

The Tito Bustillo cave

Ribadesella hides one of the great treasures of European prehistoric art: the Tito Bustillo Cave, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its cave paintings, over 30,000 years old, rival those of Altamira. Places are limited and the cave closes for part of the year, so it's wise to book ahead. Next door, the Cave Art Centre rounds off the visit.

Wild beaches nearby

Eastern Asturias boasts spectacular coves. Very close by you'll find Vega beach, a wild gem with dunes and cliffs, and the curious Cuevas del Mar beach, famous for its natural arches carved into the rock. A little further on, the Bufones de Pría, natural blowholes that roar when the swell is up.

A coastal day from the house

Combine a morning of culture at Tito Bustillo, a seafood-and-cider lunch in Ribadesella's harbour and a beach afternoon at Vega. Back at Villa del Sella, the contrast is perfect: from sea to mountains in 20 minutes, with the valley and the Picos waiting for you.